President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Lawal Uwais as a phenomenal jurist and statesman who served Nigeria with honour, courage and exceptional integrity.
Uwais passed on on Friday at the age of 89.
In a statement he personally signed, the president said he joined family members, friends, proteges and well-meaning Nigerians in mourning the respected patriot and statesman.
He stated that many remarkable highpoints hallmarked Uwais’ illustrious career on the bench.
The president said Uwais superintended the Judiciary at a challenging time in our history with tact, patience, and a sense of duty.
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The stabilising role, the president, said, helped usher in the current democratic dispensation, which he had the distinct honour of ushering in as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who swore in the elected president on May 29, 1999.
The president stated further:
“In retirement, the Federal Government called upon Justice Uwais to head a panel to investigate the conduct of our elections. Given his pedigree and personal integrity, he was the right person for that onerous assignment.
“Not surprisingly, Justice Uwais led the panel to produce a critical report that contained a detailed prognosis of our electoral system.
“In active service and retirement, the late Justice Uwais maintained a dignified persona, earning him respect beyond his immediate constituency.”
President Tinubu prayed: “May God Almighty accept the soul of Justice Uwais and admit him to Jannatul Firdaus.”
He extended his condolences to the Uwais family, the government and the people of Kaduna State, as well as the members of the Nigerian Judiciary, over Uwais’ death.
